Ayurvedha in Sri Lanka

Ayurveda believes in (Devanāgarī: earth, water, fire, air and space) to compose the universe, including the human body. Chyle, blood, flesh, fat, bone, marrow, and semen are believed to be the seven primary constituent elements of the body. Ayurveda stresses a balance of three substances: wind/spirit/air, phlegm, and bile, each representing divine forces. According to Ayurveda, these three regulatory principles Doshas, vata (wind/spirit/air), pitta (bile) and kapha (phlegm) is important. Traditional beliefs hold that humans possess a unique constellation of Doshas. In Ayurveda, the human body perceives attributes of experiences as 20 Guna (meaning qualities). Surgery and surgical instruments are employed. It is believed that building a healthy metabolic system, attaining good digestion and proper excretion leads to vitality. Ayurveda also focuses on exercise, yoga, meditation, and massage. Thus, body, mind, and spirit/consciousness need to be addressed both individually and in unison for health to ensue.

The concept of Panchakarma is believed to eliminate toxic elements from the body. Eight disciplines of Ayurveda treatment, called Ashtanga are given below,

Surgery (Shalya-chikitsa)

Treatment of diseases above the clavicle (Salakyam)

Internal medicine (Kaaya-chikitsa)

Demonic possession (Bhuta vidya): Ayurveda believes in demonic intervention and as a form of traditional medicine identifies a number of ways to counter the supposed effect of these interferences. Bhuta vidya has been called psychiatry.

Paediatrics (Kaumarabhrtyam)

Toxicology (Agadatantram)

Prevention and building immunity (rasayanam)

Aphrodisiacs (Vajikaranam)

In Sri Lanka Buddhism may have been an influence on the development of many of Ayurveda's central ideas particularly its fascination with balance, known in Buddhism as Madhyamika. Balance is emphasized; suppressing natural urges is seen to be unhealthy, and doing so may almost certainly lead to illness. To stay within the limits of reasonable balance and measure is stressed upon. Ayurveda places an emphasis on moderation in food intake, sleep, sexual intercourse, and the intake of medicine.

Ayurveda incorporates an entire system of dietary recommendations. Chopra (2003) on the subject of Ayurveda dietetics—writes:

“Ayurvedic dietetics comprise a host of recommendations, ranging from preparation and consumption of food, to healthy routines for day and night, sexual life, and rules for ethical conduct. In contrast to contemporary practitioners of New Age Ayurveda, older Ayurvedic authors tended to be religiously neutral. Even Buddhist authors refrained from trying to convert the patient to follow their particular religious ways”

For diagnosis the patient is to be questioned and all five senses are to be employed. The Charaka Samhita recommends a tenfold examination of the patient. The qualities to be judged are: constitution, abnormality, essence, stability, body measurements, diet suitability, psychic strength, digestive capacity, physical fitness and age. Hearing is used to observe the condition of breathing and speech. The study of the vital pressure points or marma is of special importance.

There are five influential criteria for diagnosis:

'origin of the disease, prodrominal (precursory) symptoms, typical symptoms of the fully developed disease, observing the effect of therapeutic procedures, and the pathological process.

Hygiene also a component of religious virtue to many healthy people is a strong belief. Hygienic living involves regular bathing, cleansing of teeth, skin care, and eye washing. Occasional anointing of the body with oil is also prescribed.

Ayurveda stresses the use of vegetable drugs. Fats are used both for consumption and for external use. Hundreds of vegetable drugs are employed, including cardamom and cinnamon. Some animal products may also be used, for example milk, bones, and gallstones etc. Minerals—including sulfur, arsenic, lead, copper sulfate, gold are also consumed as prescribed. This practice of adding minerals to herbal medicine is known as Rasa Shastra.

In some cases alcohol is used as a narcotic for the patient undergoing an operation.[ The advent of Islam introduced opium as a narcotic. Both oil and tar are used to stop bleeding. Oils may be used in a number of ways including regular consumption as a part of food, anointing, smearing, head massage, and prescribed application to infected areas.

The proper function of channels tubes that exist within the body and transport fluids from one point to another is seen as vital, and the lack of healthy channels may lead to di